Haileybury Sailors recently enjoyed success
20090910 Thursday 10 September 2009
At the Victoria Harbour Schools Sailing Series for 2009, the following report was provided by Yachting Victoria:
“The recent Victoria Harbour Schools Sailing Series held at the Docklands show inter-school sports at its best.
Girls and boys compete against each other equally; beginner sailors battle it out with the more experienced and each student is part of a team learning and demonstrating team skills and tactics each time they jump in a boat.
And, unlike a lot of team sports, parents are not required to fork out money for equipment and uniforms – boats have been supplied throughout the series by Yachting Victoria.
Haileybury coach Andy Hunting said “Unlike school rowing or surfing, where students, parents and schools are expected to outlay large financial commitments to set up a squad, teams racing ensures that all sailing is conducted in racing boats supplied by local yacht clubs.
“With such affordable and simplistic programs available and the number of involved schools increasing each and every year, Victoria will soon be at the peak of the teams racing fraternity of Australia in the coming years.”
The 2009 schools sailing series resulted in a showdown between hot favourites Haileybury and St Leonard’s College.
The other competing school crews also demonstrated skill and tactics beyond their years, making this year’s competition one of the most memorable in the series’ history.
The Victoria Harbour Schools Sailing Series comprised two heats, followed by a very successful final, all held at Docklands. The event was represented by schools from both the private and public sector, and included young sailors of all levels and experience.
Event Director, Mark Taylor, said “This series allows sexes to compete equally and encourages mixed crews – sociable and mature. Of the top two schools in Victoria this year, half of the skippers were girls and half the crew were girls! Both of the top two schools are co-educational.”
Susan and Mark Dale, parents of winning Haileybury duo Alison and Cameron, said the shorter style racing was particularly attractive to spectators. “From a spectator viewpoint, it is very exciting as racing is close to spectators and short races make the racing interesting” Mrs Dale said.”
